Keeping Chickens Free Range

[OrganicFarmWife]

 


  It goes back more than a few decades; I heard my grandfather say, 'You got to eat a speck of dirt before You die'. Same thing, different time. They had some 500 chickens, back in the day...I adore the saying, 'It's Not what you got, It's what You DO with it' 

I believe it's a PECK of dirt!  If everyone who COULD grow a bit of food WOULD grow a bit of food, we'd turn the economy of this country on it's ear.  People are so dependent, and they don't even know it.  I asked at the local WIC office if they accepted donations of garden produce.  The answer was no.  Here is a government program, that is supposed to be providing assistance for better nutrition for Women, infants, and children, and they refuse free, fresh produce, while gleefully spending our tax dollars on not so fresh produce.  While I was there, one of the young mothers caught my eye.  She asked, "You have a garden?"  I replied, "Yes I do."  She then started asking questions.  I spent a few minutes telling her how easy it would be to plant a few greens, and perhaps a tomato and cucumber in the flower bed in front of her apartment.  Her following comment, I'll never forget as long as I live:  "I'd love to do that.  I've never grown anything in my life."  How empowering it would be if all of these young mothers who are living with very little hope for a brighter future were able to be independent enough to grow a bit of their own food to feed their own children???

Not to mention teaching themselves and their children a life skill.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Yes nothing would make me happier then everyone owning a small garden...even a container garden on their porch. It truly does not take much space. I am somewhat encouraged by the seeming growing number of back yard chicken owners.
Cheap food is killing us, one heart attack at a time.

 

[AllynTal]

I believe it's a PECK of dirt! ....

That's correct. The phrase is "You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die" A "peck" is a dry measure of 8 quarts or a quarter of a bushel. The more modern version is "You have to eat a pound of dirt before you die," I guess because most people nowadays don't know what a peck is.

We might think the government is being silly, but they don't want people to be self-sufficient or to subsistence garden. If we do for ourselves, we aren't good consumers. It's the mindless, glutton of consumerism that fuels our national economy.

Edited to add: Now "Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers" makes more sense now, doesn't it.

 

[lazy gardener]

That's correct. The phrase is "You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die" A "peck" is a dry measure of 8 quarts or a quarter of a bushel. The more modern version is "You have to eat a pound of dirt before you die," I guess because most people nowadays don't know what a peck is.

We might think the government is being silly, but they don't want people to be self-sufficient or to subsistence garden. If we do for ourselves, we aren't good consumers. It's the mindless, glutton of consumerism that fuels our national economy.

Edited to add: Now "Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers" makes more sense now, doesn't it.

You hit the nail on the head! And, if I allow myself to think about this for very long, I get depressed, and angry, and a whole slew of other negative emotions all rolled into one big old stew!

 

[duluthralphie]

On the same note as yours Lazy gardener, I tried to give some eggs to the local food shelf, they refused them.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

On the same note as yours Lazy gardener,  I tried to give some eggs to the local food shelf, they refused them.

Ours now accepts Deer meat, they have to be processed at specific shops (ones inspected by the government). So if hunters do not want to eat the deer they kill they can donate it to the food bank. They have a list of shops that are approved and the hunter need only bring the deer in. I think it is a brilliant use of resources, I know many hunters who do not care for venison. But it is also a new development.

 

[lazy gardener]

I believe that fresh road kill deer are donated to some of the local feeding programs and shelters. It's a crying shame for food to go to waste.

 

[centrarchid]

I believe that fresh road kill deer are donated to some of the local feeding programs and shelters.  It's a crying shame for food to go to waste.  

A opossum, vulture and market would likely say not leaving a carcass on the ground is going to waste.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ours now accepts Deer meat, they have to be processed at specific shops (ones inspected by the government). So if hunters do not want to eat the deer they kill they can donate it to the food bank. They have a list of shops that are approved and the hunter need only bring the deer in. I think it is a brilliant use of resources, I know many hunters who do not care for venison. But it is also a new development.

In Minnesota they do not accept venison because of chronic wasting disease. Some of the rules we have in place are "for the birds"!

I think we should all eat more homegrown or wild food/meat. I would be more than willing to try roast Eagle or Hawk, just so they learn they are not entitled to free meals of chicken whenever they want......Of course, the local conservation officer takes an opposing view. Roadkill deer would be a perfect place to set up an Eagle blind to get some easy shots at them!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I believe it's a PECK of dirt! If everyone who COULD grow a bit of food WOULD grow a bit of food, we'd turn the economy of this country on it's ear. People are so dependent, and they don't even know it. I asked at the local WIC office if they accepted donations of garden produce. The answer was no. Here is a government program, that is supposed to be providing assistance for better nutrition for Women, infants, and children, and they refuse free, fresh produce, while gleefully spending our tax dollars on not so fresh produce. While I was there, one of the young mothers caught my eye. She asked, "You have a garden?" I replied, "Yes I do." She then started asking questions. I spent a few minutes telling her how easy it would be to plant a few greens, and perhaps a tomato and cucumber in the flower bed in front of her apartment. Her following comment, I'll never forget as long as I live: "I'd love to do that. I've never grown anything in my life." How empowering it would be if all of these young mothers who are living with very little hope for a brighter future were able to be independent enough to grow a bit of their own food to feed their own children???

Gracious, LG, speck, peck, yada, yada,yada...
I can't blame the gov't folks. Too Many freaks donating tainted stuff, the SUE happy's in the world, screaming cause it isn't 'PERFECT'. It's a shame, but the feds needs to practice CYA. Maybe bring in SOME Seedlings with directions? If the Gov't doesn't shut you down, You could spark Self reliance!
It does a LOT of folks a huge charge to self worth, to Make someone dependent on them. Been going on for eons.
Pullets hid from me this morning, scared the crap out of me, dogs HAD to go out EARLY, for Something. Finally the friendlier RIR came out from under the hen hutch. WHEW!!